Social Aspects of Racial Discrimination in The Hate U Give

Racial discrimination is a longstanding problem in the United States. Racism goes way back in time which begins with slavery and then the civil war follows on. After the war, the racist legacy of slavery would persist, which spurs the brave movements of resistance including the underground railroad, the Montgomery bus boycott, and the Selma to Montgomery march. Black leaders, artists and writers help shape the character of a nation. In 2017 Angie Thomas publishes her debut novel The Hate U Give (2017) with racism and bravery being its major themes. In the novel, Thomas depicts the social aspects of racial discrimination by virtue of police brutality against minorities and activism against injustice which still exists in the American Society today.

Many law-abiding minorities face discrimination based solely on their skin color due to the failure of authorities to practice what they preach. Even after gaining civil rights, police brutality and discrimination based on skin color still exists in the American society. Washington shows the ongoing police brutality against colored when he writes, “Another 22 years later, the riots in Ferguson, Missouri, erupted in the wake of fatal shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown by a white policeman” (Washington). Later, the state and Federal authorities refused to file any charges against the officer. This has led to riots in the area. In fact, the novel The Hate U Give portrays police brutality and discrimination based on skin color, where a black, unarmed teenager Khalil is shot by a white police officer and Khalil’s childhood friend, Starr Carter, witnesses it. Thomas conveys that the case is being broadcasted in a way favorable to the police officer when she writes, “They didn’t mention that he was unarmed” (Thomas 104). For several days after the incident, Khalil is portrayed as a drug dealer and the fact that he is unarmed is not known. Minorities in the American society still face discrimination based on skin color.

In the modern day, many young people are taking lead in addressing concerns about discrimination and police brutality against blacks. Robinson shows that discrimination against minorities has triggered protests and riots when she writes, “Demonstrators protest fatal shooting of unarmed man in Sacramento on the street, Black Lives Matter has both sustained protests around police violence and has shaped the principles of more recent protest movements” (Robinson). Holding demonstrations creates awareness and brings attention to an issue, which in turn helps in the resolution of the issue in a civil manner. Indeed, after the grand jury decides not to file charges against the white police officer, demonstrations and protests are held in Starr’s neighborhood. In the novel, Thomas shows that people are not satisfied with the decision made by the grand jury when she writes, “King lords in bandanas and garden disciples in green bandanas stand on a police car in the middle of the street chanting “Justice for Khalil” people gathered around the car record the scene with their phones and throw rocks at the window” (Thomas 393). Social movements create social change. They attempt to create change in the society and the way people think. Many social movements these days are led by the younger generation to bring change in the society and for betterment of their lives.

In the novel The Hate U Give (2017) by Angie Thomas, Thomas depicts the social aspects of racial discrimination by virtue of police brutality and activism, which still exists today. The major themes of the novel are racism and bravery. The history of racism starts with slavery and then the civil war follows on. In the post-war era, black leaders, artists and writers help arouse a new Black cultural identity, which pricks movements of resistance counting the sit-ins, the Montgomery bus boycott, and the March on Washington. Racial discrimination is a long-term issue in the Land of Liberty even today.